2009 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Bracket
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - West Chester University, fresh off its third PSAC championship in the last four years, is the top seed in the Atlantic Region and will host a first and second round match this coming weekend.
West Chester (19-1-1) received a bye as the top seed in the region and will play the winner of the first-round contest between fourth-seeded Indiana (Pa.) (13-6-1) and fifth-seeded Gannon (10-7-1). IUP and Gannon will square off at 12 p.m. on Friday at South Campus Field with the winner taking on West Chester on Sunday at 12 p.m.
That winner advances to the Atlantic Regional final the following weekend, which will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed from the Northeast Regional. The other half of the Atlantic Regional features second-seeded Kutztown (15-5-2) receiving a bye and facing the winner of third-seeded California (16-5-1) vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (13-6-1).
The Atlantic Regional final and Northeast Regional final will both be played on Friday, Nov. 20 at the same site. The two winners move on to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 22 to play for a trip to the Division II national semifinals in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 3-5.
West Chester is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament, boasting an overall record of 8-6-1, its lone tie coming in 2007 against C.W. Post, a game the Golden Rams eventually won on penalty kicks to move on in the tournament.
West Chester reached the national semifinals for the first time in school history in 2006, losing to eventual national champion Metro State. That is the furthest the Golden Rams have ventured into the NCAAs. Seniors Sam Paolino and Heather Manorek are the only two holdovers from that club three years ago, including the coaching staff.
Last fall, West Chester reached the third round after receiving a first-round bye and then defeating East Stroudsburg in the second round at West Chester University. The Rams then hosted the third- and quarterfinal-rounds where they fell to Mercyhurst in the third round. The College of Saint Rose defeated Mercyhurst inside John A. Farrell Stadium in the quarterfinals to advance to the national semifinals.
